I read and write mostly YA fantasy. My favourite authors do the kind of work I want to do in my writing. I love authors who climb around on the fence between what is and is not "appropriate" for children and teens, those who delve into the dark and deal with real issues that children and teens face in a fantastic way. Examples are Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and Coraline. I raised myself on Harry Potter and especially appreciate the second half of the series once Rowling starts killing people and playing with the racism and classism of her fictional society. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly is more and more perfect every time I read it. The Neverending Story, need I say more. And the His Dark Materials trilogy which dares to face the horrors of religion left to its own devices. My own writing explores questions of identity and existentialism in a fantasy context. I use fantastic metaphor to explore philosophy, terrorism, theology, fear, and humanity.